"To this day, I can't figure how from there, at that particular time, I made it to where I am now."

A teenage Tyson, by now spending time in a reform school, found an exit when his talents in the ring were spotted by respected trainer Cus D'Amato.

At the age of 18, Tyson turned professional and was soon undefeated in 22 bouts. Two years later, in 1986, the young American knocked out Trevor Berbick to become the youngest heavyweight world champion in history.

Tyson went undefeated for another four years but, with the benefit of hindsight, he now sees that heady era of fame and fortune very differently.

"I don't like that time in my life," Tyson continued. "I didn't like the person I was back then.

"Even with all that money and all that success I had, I didn't get anything done. My kids never saw me. I was a horrible father."

There were more life lessons for Tyson when in 1992 he was found guilty of rape and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

On his release, the Brooklyn boxer returned to the ring but controversy soon followed in the infamous "bite fight" against Evander Holyfield.

During the duo's second heavyweight title bout in 1997, Tyson chewed off a chunk of Holyfield's ear. He was later served with a one-year boxing ban.